The Lincoln County Victims Foundation, led by organizer and president Christina Hobbs, is establishing a countywide task force designed to connect victims with practical resources such as counseling, food, child care, emergency housing and longer-term support.
Hobbs said the effort began about a year and a half ago with concerns about gaps between agencies serving victims. Initially, she considered pursuing changes to state law, particularly related to domestic violence cases, before recognizing the immediate need for a coordinated local response.
“I just kind of had this feeling that we needed to get something going in our community,” Hobbs said. “There’s been a gap, it seems like, between agencies.”
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Among the policy ideas she initially explored were requiring a 24-hour hold for domestic-violence suspects and GPS monitoring for repeat offenders and felons. Those legislative discussions have been temporarily set aside while the foundation focuses on forming its task force and building local services.
The task force includes Lincoln County Sheriff Shane Johnson, Afton Police Chief Jason Romberg, licensed social worker Barb Merritt, representatives of Turning Point and Afton Food Pantry, and Wyoming Representative McKay Erickson. Hobbs said the group’s first priority is creating a collaborative network capable of responding to victims’ different needs.
The foundation has also sought guidance from established victim-service groups in neighboring counties, including Sublette and Uinta counties.
Lincoln County Attorney Spencer Allred, who serves as the foundation’s director at large, said domestic violence victims often face difficult financial and family circumstances that can make it challenging to separate from an abuser or continue through the criminal-justice process.
“A lot of times we have victims of domestic violence [who] say, ‘No, we don’t want anything done,’” Allred said. “They want that abuser, quite frankly, to come back to the house and work because the mortgages have to be paid and things like that, and kids have to be taken care of.”
Law enforcement and prosecutors have defined roles in responding to crimes, Allred said, but a separate coordinated organization can provide the resources needed to help victims establish stability and independence.
The foundation hopes to eventually support victims with short-term housing and pursue long-term housing options, while also assisting with groceries, day care, counseling and other immediate needs.
The organization has established 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and is beginning to organize educational and fundraising committees. Allred said financial contributions, volunteers and community involvement will be important as the foundation develops programs.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The foundation plans to distribute purple pins for law-enforcement officers and community leaders to wear and place purple ribbons and informational displays throughout Lincoln County..
